I was forced to spend my PIP cleaning my ‘filthy’ new house which was covered in brown stains – I’m furious
A DISABLED mum was forced to spend £50 of her benefits money on cleaning products after she moved into a "filthy" council house smeared with brown stains.
Shirley Sullivan couldn't believe her eyes when she found her new bungalow was smelly and covered in brown nicotine stains.
The 48-year-old receives Personal Independence Payments and was looking forward to moving in to her home.
Council bosses admitted there were nicotine stains and said the previous tenant was a heavy smoker.
Shirley and her partner spent £50 on cleaning products.
She said: "There is smoke damage from the previous tenant everywhere.
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"There was brown everywhere - it is very filthy.
"I am disabled and I am on PIP to help me to do my day to day things.
"But I have spent that money on cleaning and decorating because it was that bad.
"We have been scrubbing and scrubbing and more nicotine has come out. Anyone who comes in would be shocked and disgusted.
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"I spent up to £50 on cleaning products. You can smell it even in the loft - it is horrendous.
"I receive the maximum pay on PIP because I do struggle. I do not like leaving the house.
"I do not ever leave the house, and it is mainly a young lady that does the shopping for me because my daughter is at work and she cannot do it.
"I have to pay her as well."
Shirley has severe pain due to a bulging disc in her back and osteoarthritis.
She also suffers from mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.
Government Personal Independence Payments mean she gets around £400 a month in benefits.
She previously lived in a two bedroom house but slept on the sofa because she couldn't get up the stairs.
Shirley added: "I have been sleeping on a sofa for three-and-a-half years because I could not get up and down the stairs.
"It was not right for me to be there."
The mum is now living with her partner until her Nottingham bungalow is cleaned up.
She hopes to move back in next month.
Shirley told Nottinghamshire Live: "Hopefully I will move into the bungalow in the next two weeks.
"We are going to the bungalow for the next five days to scrub.
"I need to get my home sorted out but it has just been a nightmare.
"I think it is unfair and disgusting because a new property should be in good condition.
"I have got photographic evidence of the state of that bungalow and how I found it.
"I want to be given all that money back because I spent the money that was supposed to help me on cleaning products.";
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Homes said: “Ms Sullivan contacted us at the end of June about the condition of the property she had just moved into.
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"We investigated the issues she raised and wrote to her in early July, outlining the steps we would take to rectify them.
"We are in the process of completing the remedial works, including replacement of window seals that are nicotine-stained because of the former tenant, who was a heavy smoker, and we spoke to Ms Sullivan this morning to arrange for these works to be carried out.”
